Step 2: Cancel numbers from the top and bottom. Remember, cancelling at this point keeps the numbers smaller...but if you don't do it your answer can still be correct.

Step 3: Multiply all the top numbers and put the answer on the top Multiply all the bottom numbers and put the answer on the bottom.

Step 4: Reduce your answer and put it into the desired format

Example: `3 1/2 *` `` ```4 2/5`

Step 1: `3 1/2 = 7/2` and `4 2/5 = 22/5` Step 2: `` 2 on the bottom can cancel with 22 on the top as below At this point, I like rewriting the problem so I can draw lines through numbers that match on the top and bottom.

7 x (2 x 11) ------------------ 2X 5

7 x 11 --------- 5

Step 3: 7 x 11 = 77 and 5 = 5 so the answer will be `77/5`

Step 4: 77/5 does not reduce, meaning I cannot fine a common multiple of the top and bottom numbers to simplify this fraction. I can change it to a mixed number if that helps understand the number better (like for answering the question how many hole pies are needed to serve this much to a group of guests?)